Giants Insist They Won't Take 0-6 Dolphins Lightly

By TOM CANAVANThe ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sunday

Oct 30, 2011 at 2:41 AM

Like many players during a bye week, the New York Giants got in front of their televisions this past weekend and watched the winless Miami Dolphins blow a 15-point lead in the final three minutes and lose in overtime.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. | Like many players during a bye week, the New York Giants got in front of their televisions this past weekend and watched the winless Miami Dolphins blow a 15-point lead in the final three minutes and lose in overtime. They watched the Broncos' Tim Tebow run almost untouched for a game-tying, 2-point conversion in the final seconds and saw a fumble by Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore set up a game-winning field goal.They also heard the sound bite of Dolphins' running back Reggie Bush saying his team "stinks." They weren't the only ones watching the mess. Tom Coughlin saw it, too, and the coach spent the early part of the week warning his NFC East-leading Giants (4-2) that the Dolphins (0-6) have the capability to beat them Sunday at MetLife Stadium despite all their problems, including speculation that coach Tony Sparano is in his final season. Coughlin broke down the Dolphins' season for his team, noting Miami was in contention in the second half against New England, Houston, Cleveland, San Diego and Denver, but just didn't make the plays. If there was a bottom line for the Giants, it was don't approach the Dolphins the same way they did Seattle. New York came out flat and got beat. "They're trying to win a football game," Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty said when asked about the Dolphins. "It is a team that is searching right now but they are going to come in here hungry and fired up. It's not like we're going to just show up on today and win a ballgame. You have to prepare and be ready to match their intensity." The Dolphins not only have had to deal with their losing streak, but there have been a number of outside distractions this week. There were reports that the Dolphins ownership was interested in talking to Bill Cowher about the coaching job, another one that Sparano had put his house up for sale — which he did for the second time in the past year because only he and his wife are living there — and others saying fans were hoping the team continues to lose so it might get the No. 1 in the draft, which is expected to be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. The Dolphins will be facing a Giants team that is playing well and one that knows it better win with New England, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Green Bay on the horizon in the next five weeks.

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